In 1942, Louis Dublin, a statistician at Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, grouped some four million people who were insured with Metropolitan Life into categories based on their height, body frame (small, medium or large) and weight. He discovered that the ones who lived the longest were the ones who maintained their body weight at the level for average 25-year-olds.

These Metropolitan Life tables became widely used for determining recommended body weights. In 1942, the tables gave "ideal body weights." In 1959, they were revised and became "desirable body weights." And in 1983, they were revised once again, this time called "height and weight tables." The weights given in the 1983 tables are heavier than the 1942 tables because, in general, heavier people live longer today.

Experts have criticized the validity of these tables for several reasons:1) Insured people tend to be healthier than uninsured people.2) Frame size was never consistently measured.3) The people who were included were predominantly white and middle-classed.4) Some persons were actually weighed, some were not.5) Some wore shoes and/or clothing, some did not.6) The tables do not consider percentage of body fat or distribution, which are now known to be important factors in longevity.

Many experts say the 1942 tables are more accurate because they indicate lower "ideal weights." Many experts support the use of the 1983 tables, citing that these are the latest statistical sampling of such matters. The American Heart Association recommends using the 1959 tables rather than the newer tables that suggest somewhat higher weights. This Guide shows you the 1959 tables.

Some experts criticize the Metropolitan Life tables stating that they are okay for persons in their forties, but that the numbers are too heavy for younger persons and too light for older persons. For this and other reasons, NutriBase shows you recommended body weights from four sources: the 1959 Metropolitan Life Insurance chart, the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, North American Association for the Study of Obesity, and the U.S. Department of the Army. NutriBase displays the heights and weights from these charts, showing you the entries that are appropriate for your sex, height, frame size, and age.

The Metropolitan Life chart is organized by sex and body frame size (small, medium, or large frame) and all the other charts are sex and age-graded except for the North American Association for the Study of Obesity, which lists weights by sex only.

Weight Charts for Men

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 1959 - Male

Height

Small Frame

Medium Frame

Large Frame

5'01"

105-113

111-122

119-134

5'02"

108-116

114-126

122-137

5'03"

111-119

117-129

125-141

5'04"

114-122

120-132

128-145

5'05"

117-126

123-136

131-149

5'06"

121-130

127-140

135-154

5'07"

125-134

131-145

140-159

5'08"

129-138

135-149

144-163

5'09"

133-143

139-153

148-167

5'10"

137-147

143-158

152-172

5'11"

141-151

147-163

157-177

6'00"

145-155

151-173

166-187

6'01"

149-160

155-173

166-187

6'02"

153-164

160-178

171-192

6'03"

157-168

165-183

175-197

US National Center for Health Statistics - Male

Height

18-24 Yr.

25-34 Yrs.

35-44 Yrs.

45-54 Yrs.

55-64 Yrs.

5'02"

130

139

146

148

147

5'03"

135

145

149

154

151

5'04"

139

151

155

158

156

5'05"

143

155

159

163

160

5'06"

148

159

164

167

165

5'07"

152

164

169

171

170

5'08"

157

168

174

176

174

5'09"

162

173

178

180

178

5'10"

166

177

183

185

183

5'11"

171

182

188

190

187

6'00"

175

186

192

194

192

6'01"

180

191

197

198

197

6'02"

185

196

202

204

201

North American Association for the Study of Obesity - Males

Height

All Ages

Height

All Ages

5'00"

122

5'09"

161

5'01"

126

5'10"

166

5'02"

131

5'11"

171

5'03"

135

6'00"

175

5'04"

139

6'01"

179

5'05"

144

6'02"

184

5'06"

148

6'03"

-

5'07"

152

6'04"

-

5'08"

157

-

-

US Army - Males

Height

17-20 Yrs.

21-27 Yrs.

28-39 Yrs.

40+ Yrs.

5'00"

132

136

139

141

5'01"

136

140

144

146

5'02"

141

144

148

150

5'03"

145

149

153

155

5'04"

150

154

158

160

5'05"

155

159

163

165

5'06"

160

163

168

170

5'07"

165

169

174

176

5'08"

170

174

179

181

5'09"

175

179

184

186

5'10"

180

185

189

192

5'11"

185

189

194

197

6'00"

190

195

200

203

6'01"

195

200

205

208

6'02"

201

206

211

214

No Consensus
One look at the charts will make it obvious that there simply is no consensus as to what "ideal body weight" should be. In reality, it is actually different for every individual and is dependent on health, body fat content and distribution, musculature, age, activity, metabolism, and a host of other factors that are not simple to measure accurately. For these reasons, you and your physician or dietitian must decide what your ideal weight should be. You probably have an idea what that weight is. Start conservatively. And if you reach your target weight and still feel you need to trim off additional weight, you always have option to set a new target goal.